I recently started playing NL full ring games, $25NL at Party and the $.50 NL tables at BetonBet. I've been doing fairly well so far, avergaing about 28BB/100 hands. But I've done this by playing super tight and waiting on the big hands. Virtually all my profit has come from doubling up, not dragging several pots. While this may work at lower limits, I doubt it's effective if and when I move up. I know I'll need to be much more aggresive PF and open up my starting hand requirements quite a bit. Otherwise, it will be real obvious to better players what my holdings are when I bet.

I bought Harrington's book and am reading through it. While I don't want to become dependant on starting hand charts, I found having charts from Jones and Miller when I started playing limit helped me initially to make some decisions when I wasn't quite sure what to do. I'd like the same for NL. I was going to make a chart based on Harrington but though I'd check first and see if one had already been made up by someone?

Thanks...

the starting hand chart kind of goes out the window, especially when stacks are deep. the main difference between Limit and NL is that small pairs and suited connectors/1-gappers now become profitable to play, even heads up. additionally...in my opinion, hands like AQ/AJ/AT, and even AK to a lesser extent....become less playable and less profitable.

jon

i play AK strongly from any position too...but i dont think its quite the powerhouse that it is in a limit game.

jon

I looked at Harrington's starting hands with an eye to updating my own (note that he has 3 distince strategies). But I really think these are very much tournament oriented under normal circumstances.

I think you can use them selectively in cash games, but definitely with a grain of salt. I think alot of good hands really fall by the wayside here (you can't take as much time to hit in tournaments) and some very iffy hands are even recommended in the tight selection.

Just as an example, which I think Harrington actually includes under tight hand selection: AX. Well, ok, if you're in CO and it's folded to you, sure, steal the blinds. But this is not a hand you really want to even think about playing multi-way. It has no potential at all imo.

Mastering No-limit Hold'em (FOX) is an excellent book and anyone that plays against me should not read it.

It has a very good starting hand chart in the back that is based upon position and action before it gets to you.

Remember if you read it let me know if we are on the same table. Thanks

Mike, thanks for the tip, buddy. Based upon your high recommendation, I sprung for it yesterday at Barnes and Nobles. It's been awhile since I bought a poker book, and I'm glad I waited for this one. So far, it's terrific. I wonder just how much this investment will pay off. I think it will.

CJ